Top U.S. General In The Middle East Predicts Some U.S. Troops Will Remain In Iraq

U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division pull security during a base defense exercise at Camp Taji, Iraq, Jan. 19, 2020.U.S. Army

ABC News: US General confident Iraqis will ask American troops to remain in Iraq

Gen. McKenzie met with new Iraqi Prime Minister in Baghdad

The top U.S. military commander in the Middle East is expressing confidence that talks with Iraq will keep U.S. military troops in that country. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the commander of U.S. Central Command, visited Baghdad on Tuesday and met with new Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al Kadhimi, who has taken steps to take on an Iranian-backed Shiite militia group that has attacked American forces.

"I believe the government of Iraq recognizes the true value that the coalition brings to the fight against Daesh (another name for ISIS) in Iraq, and I believe that going forward, they're going to want us to be with them," McKenzie said in an interview with a small number of reporters.

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More News On The Top U.S. General In The Middle East Predicting Some U.S. Troops Will Remain In Iraq

CENTCOM commander sees smaller but enduring troop presence in Iraq -- Military Times/AP
US general predicts some troops will remain in Iraq -- The Hill
U.S. commander confident Iraq will ask American forces to stay as it confronts militias -- Washington Post